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Turkish Press Review, 01-07-27Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning27.07.2001CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT: "IT IS NOT EASY TO GIVE UP FLUCTUATING FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he was optimistic about the future and he believed that Turkey would overcome her problems in the near future. Referring to his future meeting with the IMF Deputy Chairman Stanley Fischer, Ecevit said, "I hope new opportunities will be created to discuss many issues and to find solution to problems during the meetings." He added, "The government has no inclination to give up the fluctuating foreign exchange rates. It is also true that fluctuating rates has brought about results worse than expected. However, it's not easy to turn back. We will, of course, evaluate this issue with the IMF." Upon a question asking what kind of measures they will take for the manufacturing sector, Ecevit said, "Many industrial institutions were forced to shut down due to the recent crisis. This gave rise to the unemployment. That's why we have to revive the production in our economy first. The World Bank has proposals and promises on this issue. We'll try to do our best." /Cumhuriyet/[02] CEM TO TRAVEL TO EGYPTThe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, will travel to Egypt next week. Cem, who will visit Cairo on July 30th, is expected to meet with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Mahir. Among the issues to be discussed at Cem's meetings in Egypt are, resuming negotiations between the parties in the Middle East and the ways to stop violence. /Cumhuriyet/[03] ANKARA WELCOMES INTER-SOCIETAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE IN MACEDONIAThe Foreign Ministry said that the fact that one of the five memberships of the Inter-Societal Relations Committee had been given to the Turkish society in Macedonia was a pleasing development. A statement made by the Ministry said that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem had emphasized the need for Turks to be represented in organizations formed in accordance with the Constitution. Cem is reported to have said that all legal representatives of societies living in Macedonia should participate in political dialogue. The Foreign Minister has expressed concerns about the deadlock in talks with Macedonia, saying this may lead to a flare up of fighting, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The statement from the Ministry said that during his Macedonia visit Cem emphasized the need for a political solution that would satisfy all, rather than a resort to the use of force. /Turkish Daily News/[04] NEW PERIOD IN CYPRUSThe process of negotiations in Cyprus will start with the meeting between the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and the General Secretary of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan, in a European city after August 15th. The UN requested the Turkish side to forget the previous proximity talks and the issues discussed there completely. The UN has given the guarantee that these negotiations will be a brand new start. Upon this development, Ankara told its opinion to the TRNC that this guarantee was a positive one and that starting the negotiations would be useful. Denktas will not directly address the Greek-Cypriot side but it will meet only with Annan and the officials from the UN. Then the General Secretary of the UN's Special Representative to Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto, will go to the Island and begin the shuttle diplomacy. Meanwhile, while returning from Malaysia, Denktas stated that he has received Annan's invitation to meet in New York. /Turkiye/[05] TURKEY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OBSTACLE TO THE ESDITurkey does not consider the proposals of the EU on the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) as satisfactory. A high-level bureaucrat said that informal discussions were going on concerning the ESDI between Turkey and the EU. He added," We do not aim to constitute an obstacle against the ESDI. We have achieved progress on the issue but the level we reached is not satisfactory." /Cumhuriyet/[06] FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VEDRINE VISITS TURKEYThe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem , will meet with his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine, in Ankara today. The most important issue to be discussed at the meeting will be the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). They are also expected to discuss bilateral relations and Turkey- EU relations. Turkey is expected to convey her concerns over the attitudes of the EU. /Cumhuriyet/[07] ISRAELI CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF MOFAZ IN ANKARAIsraeli Chief of the General Staff Shaul Mofaz will hold meetings in Ankara. Among the topics to be discussed during his meetings with the Turkish military authorities, missile defense system, modernization of the Turkish tanks, the delivery of the military satellites and helicopters and other common defense projects. Mofaz's visit carries great importance due to Turkish and Israeli meetings with the US officials on establishing a common missile defense system. /Cumhuriyet/[08] SUITCASE TRADE WITH IRANWithin the framework of the suitcase trade between Turkey and Iran, the train journeys between Tebriz and Van will start mutually as of August 27th once a week. Following the three-day investigation visit to Iran, the Undersecretary Advisor of the Prime Ministry, Omer Yildiz, Governor of Van, Durmus Koc, and the Deputy General Director of the State Railways (DDY), Cahit Soyler, have returned to Van and held a press conference. During the meeting, Koc said the suitcase trade, which will start between Van and Tebriz once a month, will provide Van with a great activity in terms of economy and tourism. /Turkiye/[09] THE SECOND BORDER GATE TO BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN IRAQ AND TURKEYThe Iraqi Minister of Petroleum, Amir Muhammed Rasid, who is currently in Ankara to join the 13th Joint Economic Commission (JEC), has visited the Minister of Public Works and Settlement, Koray Aydin, the Minister of the Interior, Rustu Kazim Yucelen, and the Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral. Aydin said a consensus was reached that a second border gate would be established between Iraq and Turkey. Following the meeting between Aydin and Rasid, during which Tuzmen was also present, Aydin said they had found the opportunity to make evaluations that concern the both Ministries. Aydin added, "Within the framework of the works to increase the foreign trade volume between the two countries, we have exchanged opinions concerning the opening of a second border gate and disposing of the busy atmosphere of Habur border gate." Rasid also said they had reached a consensus concerning the issue. /Turkiye/[10] YILMAZ: "EACH PARTY MIGHT CHANGE ITS OWN MINISTER"Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman, Mesut Yilmaz, said that the government did not make a decision for a cabinet revision and added, "If mandatory, each party might change its inner structure." Upon the questions of the reporters about the current economic situation, Yilmaz said, "There will be no change in the fluctuating foreign exchange rates, neither will be in the main targets of the program." /Cumhuriyet/[11] RESIGNATIONS FROM THE FELICITY PARTYThe resignations, which have been continuing since the establishment of the Felicity Party (SP), are continuing. Founding General Chairman of the Virtue Party, Bolu deputy, Ismail Alptekin, and the former State Minister, the SP Founding Member and the GIK member, Sabri Tekir, also resigned from the FP yesterday. The number of chairs in the FP has decreased to 48 with Alptekin's resignation. /Sabah/[12] ANAP TO GET QUALITY CERTIFICATEStudies pertaining to the establishment of the ISO Quality Assurance System at Motherland Party (ANAP) Headquarters have been completed. The quality certificate will be presented to ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz in a ceremony to take place on Aug. 1. /Turkish News/[13] BOTAS SENDS COMMITTEE TO IRANIAN BORDER FOR CHECKSState-Owned Turkish Pipeline Company (BOTAS) reported that it had sent a committee to the station, on the Iranian border, built to make records concerning the flow of natural gas from Iran to Turkey, to check on recorded data. Iran informed BOTAS on July 22 that it had completed the construction of the Bazargan measurement station in accordance with the agreement signed with Iran. A statement saying that the BOTAS technical committee had departed for Iran on July 25 said, "Natural gas will start flowing to our country once technical committees from Iran and Turkey have completed checks in the measurement station, and have signed a certificate declaring that the station fits all conditions in the agreement." The statement, which reported that BOTAS had completed the construction of pipelines to bring Iranian natural gas to Turkey, stated that BOTAS was ready to buy Iranian natural gas. /Turkish Daily News/[14] OIL TRANSPORTATION BEARS A GREAT POTENTIAL OF DANGERThe Novorosssisk-Tengiz pipeline through which the Caucasian oil will be transported via the Bosphorus will begin to work in August. For the first year, 600,000 barrels of oil and for the next year, 1,5 million barrels of oil are expected to be transported via the Novorosssisk-Tengiz pipeline. The increase in the oil transportation via the Straits will elevate the danger of a possible sea accident, which would mean a disaster for the region. /Cumhuriyet/[15] AGREEMENT ON SHAHDENIZ PROJECT TO BE SIGNED IN BAKU TODAYAn important step was taken regarding the Shahdeniz project related to the transportation of Azeri natural gas to Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported. Quoting a senior Energy Ministry official, the report said that a consensus was reached as a result of the negotiations carried out between Azerbaijan and Georgia. The senior official reportedly said that the agreement would be signed today during the visit by Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze to Baku, adding that Georgia would take some natural gas according to the agreement. "The Shahdeniz project is the project that moves with the greatest speed," the official said, who commented that it should be carried out parallel to the Baku-Ceyhan project. /Turkish Daily News/[16] TOURISM MINISTRY TO GIVE PRIORITY TO INFRASTRUCTURETurkey, enjoying a golden season in tourism this year, is rolling up its sleeves for the forthcoming years. The Tourism Ministry announced on Thursday that it would start a series of studies aimed at solving infrastructure problems, especially in tourist resorts. Tourism Ministry Investments General Director Ismail Kokbulut told reporters that this year's tourism season was proceeding well, and that everyone was aware of the fact that Turkey would overcome the crisis with the income that the tourism sector was generating. Kokbulut pointed out that the Tourism Ministry would be giving priority to improving infrastructure, especially in tourist resorts and coastal towns. /Turkish News/MUMCU: DAILY VISITS TO GREEK ISLANDS WILL NOT REQUIRE $50 TAX Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, speaking about the new $50 tax to be paid by people traveling abroad, stated that Turkish citizens, members of the Turkish Association of Travel Agencies (TURSAB) and the cabinet who visit the Greek Islands would not be required to pay the additional tax. Mumcu reported that at the suggestion of the Tourism Ministry trade ships and day visits would not require paying the $50 fee, making the visits easier. /Turkish Daily News/ [17] DERVIS DEFENDS THE PROGRAMEconomy Minister Kemal Dervis said that economic development could not be linear and added, "It is normal to have troubles in one week if improvement was observed for the last three weeks. Turkey has no alternative to this program right now." He held a press conference jointly with Treasury Undersecretary Faruk Oztrak and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti to evaluate the recent developments. Arguing if the atmosphere of the next six weeks is positive, the economy might improve in September and October, Dervis connected certain negative developments to political discussions and the crisis in Argentina. /Cumhuriyet/[18] FISHER IN TURKEYThe First Deputy Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stanley Fischer, will come to Turkey today. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with the State Minister responsible for economy, Kemal Dervis, yesterday. Fisher will meet Ecevit first. It is reported that Fisher might meet the coalition party leaders. According to the program that is formed first, Fisher will meet the economy reporters in the morning and then the representatives from the banking sector in the afternoon in Istanbul. In the evening, Fisher will attend the banquet, to be hosted by the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) and the other organizations of the businessmen. It was stated that before leaving Turkey, Fisher is likely to hold a press conference in Istanbul. /Turkiye/[19] BDDK APPROVES THE MERGING OF OSMANLI AND KORFEZ BANKSThe Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) approved the merging of the Korfez and Osmanli Banks. After merging, the new bank will be the ninth biggest bank of Turkey with its 4.1 % share in the market. /Sabah/[20] O'NEILL: "FLUCTUATING FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES IS A MUST"While Turkish business circles are preparing to persuade the IMF to give up the fluctuating foreign exchange rates, The US Secretary of Treasury O'Neill gave a negative response to these demands. O'Neill said the US was not in favor of any other regime alternative to the fluctuating rates. Criticizing ex-President of the US, "Clinton" also, O'Neill said, "If Turkey had been persuaded before, the crisis would not have been so big." He argues no country could develop with constant foreign exchange rates in the world, so far. /Sabah/[21] FINANCIAL TIMES: "A CHANGE IN PROGRAM MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA IN TURKEY"Evaluating the IMF Deputy Chairman Stanley Fischer's visit to Turkey, the Financial Times said that Fischer would try to increase the confidence of the investors in the program. The Financial Times said, "Fischer is expected to discuss alternatives in case the interest rates did not decrease with the Turkish officials. The Economy Minister Kemal Dervis will discuss possible slight revisions in the programs. The British paper said that Dervis had to rebuild the confidence of foreign and Turkish investors in the economy. /Cumhuriyet/[22] POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE IN FOREIGN TRADEAccording to the information issued by the State Institute of Statistics, the foreign trade deficit of the first five months of the year has increased by 50.7% when compared to the same period of the last year and amounted to 4.458 billion US dollars. The foreign trade deficit amounted to 9.034 billion US dollars in the same period of the last year. Meanwhile, the exports have increased by %10.3 and when compared to the same period of the last year and have increased from 11,480 billion US dollars to 12,667 billion US dollars. The imports have decreased by %16.5 and decreased from 20,514 billion US dollars to 17,12 billion US dollars. /Turkiye/TREASURY TO SELL BONDS AMOUNTING TO 500 MILLION US DOLLARS The Undersecretariat of the Treasury Department will export state bonds in dollars and euro today. The bid's redemption date is July 26, 2001 with interest coupon repayment once in six months. The bonds, whose nominal value is 10,000 euro-dollars, willl be sold for 0,633 euro-dollars. In the bid, the total net sale amount will be 500 million US dollars. /Turkiye/ FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVE INCREASES BY 1.8 BILLION US DOLLARS Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves have increased by 1 billion 855 million US dollars on July 13-20, 2001. According to the weekly bulletin of the Central Bank, the bank's foreign exchange reserves were amounting to 15 billion 913 million US dollars on July 13, which have increased to 17 billion 768 million US dollars on July 20. /Turkiye/ [23] TURSAB PRESENTS NEW TRAVEL INSURANCE PACKAGE FOR TOURISTSThe Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB) introduced on Thursday its "Travel Insurance Package," which will be valid as of Aug. 1. TURSAB Chairman Basaran Ulusoy said at a press conference he held at the association's headquarters, that Turkish citizens traveling both to another destination in Turkey and abroad would, from now on, be able to make use of an insurance system similar to the insurance system which foreign travelers make use of. /Turkish News/13 ARCHEOLOGICAL DIGS GOING ON IN IZMIR According to information provided by the Culture Ministry, a large number of important archeological excavations are being carried out in the Izmir area. The oldest excavations, under the management of Professor Fritz Krinzinger, have been carried out in ancient Ephesus for approximately 100 years, and the finds from the excavation's pieces are being exhibited in the Selcuk Museum. /Turkish News/ [24] AWARD TO CEM SULTAN BOOKEduard Sablier's book titled "Cem Sultan as Bourganeuf Prisoner" narrating Cem Sultan's life received "2001 Diane Potier-Bocs Silver Medal" from the Academie Francaise. The book narrates Cem Sultan's exile. /Cumhuriyet/[25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[26] A VISIT TO SOOTHE THE RUFFLED FEATHERS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the official visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hubert Vedrine is paying to Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"It is significant that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Hubert Vedrine is paying an official visit to Turkey nowadays. Last January, when the French National Assembly enacted a law legalizing Armenian genocide claims, the climate in Turkey was such that at least for a very long time to come there would not be any official contacts with France. Vedrine's visit reveals that notwithstanding all that has happened there, is a joint will to normalize the relations. A high-ranking Turkish official said on the issue that what has happened is not forgotten. The stance the French revealed on the Armenian problem is well remembered. 'We are still uneasy on the issue. However, France is an important state and we have common interests. We have to look towards the future in our relations. Therefore, we believe that Vedrine's visit is a positive step taken in this direction.' Turkey's realistic attitude plays an important part in taking such a step only seven months after the French National Assembly decision, which lead to a tension in relations as well as the maturity of France. France has taken great care not to deteriorate the relations, despite Turkey's harsh reaction and retaliatory action. Both French President Chirac and other officials have noted that French support for Turkey would continue on various occasions. The visit of a delegation of 70 businessmen has shown the importance the French have attached to these relations. There are two reasons why the French pay a special attention to Turkey. One of them is Turkey's big economic potential and strategic location in the region and the other is the belief that it would be more profitable in the long run to do business with Turkey when she is in an economic crisis. In the words of a company director, 'Turkey is a country France is giving priority to in her foreign relations.' In view of this stance, Turkey has adopted a realistic attitude. Turkish diplomacy has acted with the awareness that breaking the ice with France is beneficial to Turkey. The positive results of this stance are obvious. France has supported Turkey from the beginning of the economic crisis and the French private sector has maintained its interest in the country. During the talks Vedrine will hold with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem and other Turkish officials the main issue to be discussed will be the future of relations between the two countries in addition to EU affairs and problems related to it. It is of great importance for Turkey to draw a country like France in the EU, by her side for clarifying her membership perspective. Certainly the ESDP issue will also be discussed during the talks. The views of Ankara and Paris are far apart on the issue. However, this visit provides an opportunity to eradicate these differences. A Turkish diplomat defines Vedrine's visit as an attempt to break the ice, but they may prove to be more productive." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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